Page 49 of What About Us

“Let’s start with the elliptical today,” I say when we get to the gym. We already finished our breakfast burritos.

I come an hour before our appointment time every day so we can eat together, and it’s honestly my favorite part of the day.

“I really need to start jogging,” he replies.

“I think that’s feasible.” I nod, making notes in my phone. “You can start that today, actually.”

“Really?” His eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning.

“You’re so happy about running. I hate running. I won’t do it unless something’s chasing me.”

He snorts. “I won’t let anything chase you, wildcat. Great, treadmill it is.”

“I have rules.”

He crosses his arms over his chest, making his biceps bulge, and I can’t help but bite my lip. “Of course you have rules.”

“You do that on purpose to distract me, don’t you?”

“Do what?”

“That.” I reach out and pat his upper arm, and Oh my God. It’s pure muscle. All my girlie bits are doing the freaking cha-cha right now. “How many hours do you spend on upper body here in the gym without me?”

He smirks. “A lot. Admit it. I’m your favorite.”

He tries at least once a day.

I roll my eyes and step back.

“You will jog. You will not run. So you can get started, and I’ll tell you when to hold at a certain speed.”

“Have I ever mentioned that I don’t like being told what to do?”

I snort as he steps onto the treadmill and starts walking. His gait is normal, showing no signs of favoring the healing knee, which is great progress. He wasn’t horrible when I first got here, but I can already see a big difference.

“Whenever you’re ready to go faster, go ahead and kick it up. No hurry.”

He immediately boosts up the speed, and when he lands on a nice, easy jog, I say, “There you go. Keep it there.”

Xander’s gaze turns to me, and his face says Really?

“I can do this in my sleep, Red.”

“I know, but you have to start slow, remember? You’re not pounding too hard.”

“That’s what she said,” he says, barely even winded, and I can’t help but snort.

Fuck he looks good. His ass is so fantastic and looks even better while he’s running. As if that’s even possible.

“You’re a riot.”

“I know. Let’s go to the movies later.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Do people still go to the movies?”

“That was code for watch something in my media room,” he replies and kicks the speed up by one, as if I’m not standing right here.

“You have a whole media room?”